Khaoui, Khazri shine as Tunisia rout Libya
Messi gives Argentina win over Brazil
JOHANNESBURG, Nov 16, (RTRS): Tunisia’s Saif-Eddine Khaoui and Wahbi Khazri each scored twice in a 4-1 win over Libya in Rades on Friday to ensure a strong start to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Olympique de Marseille forward Khaoui netted his first international goals either side of the break following the opener from Khazri, who knocked in the rebound in the 33rd minute after his penalty was saved and struck again late on.
Hamdou Elhouni got Libya’s consolation just before halftime.
In the other Group J match, Tanzania came from behind to defeat Equatorial Guinea 2-1 in Dar es Salaam.
Salum Abubakar got a spectacular winner with a scorching drive from outside the box in added time.
Pedro Obiang had given the visitors a first-half lead as his speculative shot somehow beat Tanzania goalkeeper Juma Kaseja, but Simon Msuva levelled for the hosts in the 69th as he turned home the rebound after his initial header struck the post.
Morocco’s indifferent start under new coach Vahid Halilhodzic continued when they were held to a 0-0 draw by Mauritania in their Group E encounter in Rabat.
Zimbabwe also played out a goalless draw with Botswana in their Group H clash in Harare in which the hosts made all the chances but had little firepower in front of goal.
returned from international suspension to score the winner in Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Brazil in Saudi Arabia.
The striker, who missed four games after calling the South American Football Confederation “corrupt”, scored after 14 minutes to give Argentina a deserved victory in the socalled Superclasico.
The result extended Brazil’s winless run to five games since they lifted the Copa America in July, their worst such run since 2013.
Brazil beat Argentina 2-0 the last time these teams met in the Copa America semifinals and they should have taken a ninth minute lead but fired a penalty kick wide after he had been brought down in the box.
Argentina were also awarded a penalty five minutes later and although Brazilian keeper saved Messi’s initial effort, the Barcelona striker followed up to put Argentina 1-0 ahead.
Messi missed two chances to double Argentina’s lead before halftime, with defender and Alisson blocking the opportunities. Brazil, who were without
striker had twothirds of the possession but rarely
Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal during a friendly soccer match between Brazil and Argentina at King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Nov 15. (AP)
threatened the Argentine goal in a game that featured 41 fouls and six yellow cards.
Argentina, meanwhile, looked more sprightly, even without and both of whom were unused substitutes.
Argentina have now won three of the five games they have played since their semifinal exit at the Copa America.
La Liga’s hopes of staging
game with on Dec 6 in Miami have ended after a local court declined a request to grant an injunction against the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF), who oppose playing the match abroad.
The league’s organising body filed a complaint against the RFEF last year over the latter’s refusal to authorise playing regular season matches outside Spain, claiming the RFEF did not have the authority to block the move.
That complaint will be heard next February.
It is the second time the league has been unsuccessful in its bid to play regular season matches abroad, after
withdrew from plans to play a league game last January against
in Miami, citing a lack of support. La Liga and the RFEF have been at loggerheads since the league signed a 15-year deal with US entertainment company Relevent in 2018, which included a commitment to play one regular season match in North America per year.
The RFEF announced on Monday that it is to stage the next three editions of the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, but president stated that no other Spanish soccer competitions could be played abroad.
Qatar forward has been named in a three-man shortlist for the Asian Football Confederation’s men’s player of the year after helping the side win their maiden Asian Cup title this year, the continental governing body said on Friday.
The 22-year-old player is on loan at and was instrumental in helping the Qatari club reach the AFC Champions League semifinals this season.
Iran goalkeeper and Japan defender were the other nominations in the men’s category for the annual awards, which will be given out in Hong Kong on Dec 2.
Makino helped Japan reach their fifth Asian Cup final this year while his form at saw them keep six clean sheets on their way to the AFC Champions League final against Saudi Arabia’s
China striker the top scorer in last year’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup, India’s and Japan captain were the nominees in the women’s category.
US defender Sergino Dest (left), gets tangled up with Canada defender Richie Laryea while going after the ball during the first half of a CONCACAF Nations League soccer match on Nov 15 in Orlando, Fla. (AP)
ORLANDO, Fla, Nov 16, (AP): Sergiño Dest set up a goal in the second minute of his American competitive debut, Gyasi Zardes scored twice and the United States overwhelmed Canada early in a 4-1 CONCACAF Nations League match on Friday night.
A month after Canada embarrassed the Americans with a 2-0 victory at Toronto for their first win over the Americans since 1985, Jordan Morris, Zardes and Aaron Long scored as the US built a 3-0 halftime lead.